How Much Does a Child Custody Lawyer Cost?

Child Custody Attorney Fees

While a child custody battle is stressful in and of itself, you might also have concerns about how much the process is going to cost you in attorney fees. A number of factors go into determining the cost of a custody lawyer including his or her level of experience, the type of practice, where you live, and the complexity of the custody issues. This guide explains the basics of hiring a custody attorney and how much you can expect to pay.

Reasons to Hire a Child Custody Lawyer

When divorcing parents cannot come to terms on a child custody agreement, custody lawyers can help resolve points of contention over issues such as:

Whether the custody will be sole or joint

Who is responsible for legal decisions (such as education, religion, and health care)

Who has physical custody

Visitation schedules

Living arrangements

How to manage contact with other family members and friends

Accusations of violence or other behavior that may endanger the children’s welfare

How a custody agreement can be changed in the future

If both parents have obtained custody attorneys, the parties can work together through informal out of court negotiations with the aim of creating a mutually satisfactory agreement. The agreement is sent to a judge for approval once a deal has been struck and a supporting document drafted.

When this fails to work, another out-of-court negotiation strategy such as mediation can be used. During mediation, a neutral third party facilitates non-confrontational talks between the parents in an attempt to settle the outstanding custody issues. If this process yields an agreement, it is sent to the courts for finalization.

When out of court negotiations fail to produce a custody agreement, the case will go to trial and your child custody lawyer will prepare and present arguments on your behalf. A judge will enter a decision that he or she believes is in the best interests of the children after hearing testimony from each side.

Custody Lawyer Average Costs

Family law lawyer fees typically average around $100 to $500 per hour. Again, the actual rate charged will depend on an attorney’s credentials, your location, and the particulars of the case.

For a straightforward custody case where the parents are in general agreement over custody issues, you might pay somewhere around $2,500 to $5,000 in custody attorney fees. But in a drawn out custody battle that goes to trial, custody lawyer costs could balloon to $5,000 to $40,000 or more.

Most lawyers expect fees to be paid up front, which is known as a retainer. If the retainer amount is exhausted more funds will need to be added. Also, while some lawyers may return money left in the retainer at the conclusion of a case, others may have a nonrefundable policy. Make sure you are clear on this matter and others related to billing before you hire a child custody attorney.

A lawyer may also charge you for office work such as copying and faxing documents in addition to paralegal services, travel expenses, and more.